The rule, O Shaykh: Some scholars said that when a command is for the sake of etiquette, it is better to perform it, but when it is for the sake of worship, it is obligatory.
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The questioner : The rule, O Shaykh: Some scholars said that when a command is for the sake of etiquette, it is better to perform it, but when it is for the sake of worship, it is obligatory. We mentioned another rule that the original state is... and what is the stronger position?
The Shaykh : It is well known among the scholars of usul al-fiqh (the principles of jurisprudence) that a command is obligatory when it is absolute and there is no contextual indicator.
Some of them say it is for the sake of recommendation, and we have mentioned to you the evidence for each position.
Those who said it is for obligation said so because Allah said:[An-Nur 24:63].
Those who said it is for recommendation said that when we are commanded to do something, we know it is prescribed, and the original state is that there is no sin. If we say it is obligatory, then whoever leaves it commits a sin. So each side has its reasoning.
As for those who said that when it is from the category of worship, the command is obligatory, and when it is from the category of etiquette, the command is for recommendation, unless there is an indicator pointing to obligation, this position is very strong in my view, and perhaps stronger than the position of absolute obligation or absolute recommendation, because this is a detailed distinction.
The Shaykh : It is well known among the scholars of usul al-fiqh (the principles of jurisprudence) that a command is obligatory when it is absolute and there is no contextual indicator.
Some of them say it is for the sake of recommendation, and we have mentioned to you the evidence for each position.
Those who said it is for obligation said so because Allah said:
So let those beware who dissent from the Prophet's order, lest fitnah strike them or a painful punishment.
فليحذر الذين يخالفون عن أمره أن تصيبهم فتنة أو يصيبهم عذاب أليمThose who said it is for recommendation said that when we are commanded to do something, we know it is prescribed, and the original state is that there is no sin. If we say it is obligatory, then whoever leaves it commits a sin. So each side has its reasoning.
As for those who said that when it is from the category of worship, the command is obligatory, and when it is from the category of etiquette, the command is for recommendation, unless there is an indicator pointing to obligation, this position is very strong in my view, and perhaps stronger than the position of absolute obligation or absolute recommendation, because this is a detailed distinction.